Vehicle washer



Sept. 30, 1941. F. B. YINGLING VEHICLE WASHER 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 28, 1938 m T L g m m B a k U M v u u U no w Gum/wan;

Sept. 1941- F. B. YINGLING 2,257,255

'VEHICLE WASHER Filed Feb. 28, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FRfl/YK Z3. Ymsulve Sept. 30, 1941. F. B. YINGLING 2,257,255

VEHICLE WASHER Fild Feb. 28, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheets l k/l/Y/f BQ Ynvsz. m6

d KMYXM Sept. 1'941- F. B. YINGLING 2,257,255

VEHICLE WASHER Filed Feb. 28, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 FEW/YA 5. Y/NGL ms.

Maw K WWW/9W Sept. 30, 1941. F. B. YINGLING VEHICLE WASHER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 28, 1958 U 338 mumk g P 1941- F. B. YINGLINGI- 2,257,255

VEHICLE WASHER Filed Feb. 28; 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet s IIII/I/I/II/IIIIIIIIIII/J Patented Sept. 30, 1941 S PATENT. OFFICE to be washed.

UNITED STATE 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved vehicle washer which, while especially designed for brushing or scrubbing the exterior portions of various types of busses and railway cars as herein illustrated, is also-readily adaptable for in plumb perpendicular position, these frames mechanically washing other vehicles. For conand brushes assume a straight perpendicular p0- venience in-illustrating and describing, the vehicle sition for scrubbing or washing the sides and is referred to as a bus, which moves through windows of the bus. However, if the bus leans the washing machine and is showered or sprinkled slightly to one side, or should structural bulges with water; rotary brushing units are operated l0 and other irregularities be present in the side for cleansing or washing the exterior sides and faces of the bus, these flexible brushing units roof of the bus; and a final rinsing shower of automatically adapt themselves to and compenwater is applied to the cleansed bus as it emerges sate for the irregularities, to insure complete and from the washing machine. thorough cleansing, and to avoid undue wear or Two sets or units are employed, one unit at distortion of the brushes. each side of the longitudinal center of the wash- Heretofore, in mechanical washing machines, ing machine, and each unit includes a number difficulties have been encountered in simultaneof brushes and sets of brushes having their verously and thoroughly washing the side' windows tical axes journaled in bearings supported in of the bus with the body of thebus, and to aclaterally swinging brush frames. The several complish this end, in addition to the flexible brushes, some in sets, are operated by individual mountings of the body brushes, I utilize a'window motors mounted on the several brush-frames, brushing unit at each side of the washing maand these motors may be controlled manually, chine, preferably at the rear of the flexibleautomatically controlled, or controlled in other frame units of the body brushes. These window suitable manner. brushes are located at a height intermediate the The brush-frames may be swung on their axes upper and lower ends of the sets of body brushes, by manually operated means, for setting the and by means of these window brushes, all porbrushes in operative position to wash the vehicle tions of the successively passing windows are and to retract the brushes from operative posithoroughly cleansed. tion. The brushing units are also automatically By the co-operation of the roof brushes, the adjusted to the surface to be washed by contact body brushes and the window brushes, the extefrom the moving bus as it enters and passes 'rior surfaces of the bus are quickly and through the washing machine, and after the units thoroughly cleansed as the bus passes through have been set in pre-determined position, dethe machine or apparatus; the several units of Pending p t Width and height of the bus. the machine may be controlled with facility and Both the roof units and the side units, after they operate with efliciency in the performance having been set in predetermined position, are of their functions. Due to the simplicity in conpushed away from the bus by contact therewith, struction and operation of the units of the maagainst a yielding pressure, and under the yieldchine, the latter may be assembled, and adapted ingpressure the brushes are held in operative po- 40 to various sizes or capacities, by varying the sition against the surfaces of the vehicle or bus The rotary brushes of the units, arranged in sets (here shown as two to a set) and referred to as body-brushes, are mounted in hinged, yieldingly mounted on the main frame and having means adapted to resiliently urge the brushes, toward the bus and to automatically adapt themselves to the contour of the exterior sides of the bus to insure cleansing of the sides from end to end, and also the side windows of the bus. For this purpose the vertically arranged pairs of brushes and their complementary motors are mounted in two spring-pressed, swivel-frames,

move independently of the other and yield under lateral pressure from the bus. If the vertical side walls of the bus are straight or plane surfaces, and if the bus rolls through the machine number of units employed, and as the units are constructed in standardized right and left hand parts they may be manufactured at comparatlvely low cost of production.

The inventiontconsists essentially in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts as will hereinafter be more fully set forth. In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment hinged in such manner that each frame may illustrative and descriptive of the invention,

and at the exit end of themachine a similar set rather than limiting the invention to any specific showing.

, It will be understood that while the exemplifying bus washer, as illustrated, is in successful operation, changes and alterations may be made, and are contemplated, in the construction and operation of the washer, within the scope of 'my claims, without departing from the principles bf the invention. v

Figure 'l is a plan view showing the bus washer "embodying my invention, illustrating by arrows the travel of the bus through the washer, and Another unit, at each side of the machine, in-

cludes a single window brush to assist the body the rotary movement of the several brushes.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the ,washer, disclosing the flexible frames of the body brushes, the roof brushes, and one of the window brushes. K 1

; Figure 3 is a view in elevation at the exit end jof the mechanical washer, indicating by dash ilines the outline of a bus, and showing the rela- ;tive positions of the body, roof, and window ,jbrushes.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional, side view -3 (with parts broken away forconvenience of illus-- jtration), of one ofthe flexible frames, showing also the hinge rod or post, and one set of the gmotor-operated body brushes, and other features. 1 Figure .5 is an enlarged detail, vertical sectionial view, showing the bearing-and power trans-. mission between two of the brush arbors, and one of the flexible joints between the upper section and the lower section of a flexible frame.

I Figure 6 is a detail view showing one of the up- Eright I-beams of the washer frame in horizontal isection, and the spring arrangement and oohitrol for regulating the pressure of the brushes jagainst the side of the bus.

' adjusting lever. mechanism for setting the brush in predetermined operative position with relation to the roof of the bus. 1

Figure is a side elevation of the adjusting lever mechanism shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail View showing jone of the uprights or I-beams of the main frame, as at line Ill-l0 of Figure 9, and also showing a planof the adjusting lever. f

Figure 11 is a detail view partly in section, showing the type of bearing used at the lower end ,of a set of brushes in a flexible frame, as well as the bearing used at the lower end of a single brush as a window brush.

In the exemplifying structure I employ an overhead rectangular, rigid frame comprising horizontal channel beamsl supported on upright I- beams 2 erected upon suitable bases or foundations, the frameparts being bolted together'and arranged to provide a passageway for the bus that is designated B in Figure 3. Centrally spaced guide rails 3,1, are laid on the floor or ground operative position through the machine. At the left or entering end of the washer upright and ,horizontal water pipes 4 form an arch through i which the bus passes, and these pipes, which receive theirsupply of water from a suitable source, are equipped with spray nozzles i for the purpose of showering or sprinkling the bus as it en- I ters the machine from the left in Figures 1 and 2,

the machine.

As seen in Figures 1, 2, and 3, at each side of the 'machine and in the upper portion of the frame, brushing units are arranged, to wash the opposite sides of the bus and its'roof, and one of each of the. two lateral. units illustrated comprises a set or pair of brushes vertically arranged and indicated as an upper brush and a lower brush for washing the sides or body of the busf brushes, and especially to cleanse the side windows of the bus. The roof brushes include two units, arranged overhead, spaced longitudinally 1 of the machine, and they extend in opposite directions transversely of the bus, preferably with a l on, the frames of the llnits, and these motorsmay becontrolled through suitable connections in apjlongitudinally of the frame, to guidethe busin propriate manner, the electrical connections and controlling parts being. omitted from the draw lugs for convenience of illustrating the invention.

As indicated in Figure 2 and especially Figure 4, the upper and lower brushes forming a set of body brushes for washing the side of the bus from the roof down to, the lower edge or skirt of the bus, include two units of similar cont struction and operation; and the description of one will sufflce for both units.

A set of upper brushes and, lower brushes is mounted in a hinged and swiveled frame that is spring-pressed toward the side of the bus, and at their adjoining ends the upper brush and the lower brush are in closeproximity in order to provide a substantially continuous vertical brushing surface for the side ofthe bus.

In Figure 4 one of the swiveled, hinged, frames is illustrated in detail, as hinged upon the long hinge-pin orpost 8, which is journaled in brackets 9 attached to an upright beam 2. The hinge pin or post 8, as seen in Figure 4 is'made up of sections, the adjoining ends of which are rigidly united by a collar or sleeve 8'. The flexibleframe comprises two sections l0 and II," preferably of channel irons, and these frame sections each have a socket l2 fitting over a spherical head or ball I3 that is fixed to the upright beam of the frame. The hinge-pin or post passes through holes in the ball and socket joints, and better .pins, as l4 are passed transversely through the post or pin for retaining the latter against displacement.

As best seen in Figure 5 the two sections l0 and H are connected at their adjoining free ends by means of a swivel coupling pin l5 which ex-.

tends horizontally andis loosely fitted in bearing brackets I of the section II, and this coupling pin passes through a hole in a vertically arranged tongue II that is welded or otherwise secured at the lower corner of the free end of the section I0.

This coupling, which permits independent hinge at its lower end the brace has a coupling head loose on the hinge-post 8. The sleeve I9 is located between the two spaced bearing brackets vl6, Ii of the coupling pin, andthis brace per-I mits a limited flexing, laterally of the lower frame section.

A similar diagonally extending brace 21 is employed between the upper free corner of the upper section It and another coupling head 2| mounted on the post I, and similar to the head 20 of the brace l8.

These two sections Ill and II constitute a flexible frame for the upper and lower brushes, the sections being supported on the hinge post by the ball and socket Joints of the two sections. In addition, the loosely coupled diagonal braces II and 2| permit flexure of the frame, and preferably a diagonal strut, as 22, is extended from the ball and socket of the lower section to the lower free corner of this section, to prevent excessive flexing of the frame beyond the required degree.

These upper and lower brushes, which are axially alined, are mounted at the free ends of the frame-sections, and the operating motor M is mounted upon the upper part of the upper section, preferably with its driving mechanism 23 directly connected to the brush arbor 24 of the upper brush. As shown in Figure 5, a ball bearing and universal Joint indicated at 25, are mounted in an extension 26 of the frame section H, to connect the upper arbor 24 with the arbor 21 of the lower brush, and a similar bearing joint, as 2| is provided for the lower end of the lower arbor, which bearing joint is mounted in an extension 2! of the lower section II of the flexible frame.

These body brushes, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1 are revolved by their motors in a direction opposite to that of the travel of the bus through the machine, and the brushes are yieldingly held toward the opposite sides of the bus so that the bus in entering and passing through the machine, will contact with the brushes and push the brushes and their frames outwardly against spring pressure, thereby insuring proper position forthe brushes to work effectively upon the sides of the passing bus.

The flexing of the frame, and the flexing of the axially alined set of brushes in the frame, permit the brushes to adapt themselves to the exterior surfaces of the sides of the bus, regard less of vertical irregularities of the bus.

The body brushes and their frames, as well as the window brushes and their frames, are first adjusted to operative position with relation to the sides of the bus to be washed, by man-' ually controlled means, before the bus enters the washing machine. This adjustment utilizes spring devices which are regulated to vary the amount of pressure placed against the brushes, or vary the degree of. pressure of the brushes against the bus as the latter passes through the machine. The spring devices include compression springs, the strength or tension of which determine the reaction of the brush against the side of the bus, and these spring devices are mounted on each of the body-brush frames and the window-brush frames.

Each section of the flexible frame is equipped with the required number of spring devices to hold the flexed frame and the flexed set of brushes, with a yielding pressure in operative position, three of the devices being shown in Figure 4, and these devices are regulated or adjusted by a manually operated control device in connection with the hinge-post 8.

Each spring device includes a lever to fixed at 3| on the hinge-post, and a spring bolt 32 hinge post I and lever II are held stationary,

the compressed spring tends to m'ge the frame and its brushes toward the side of the bus. The lever is also provided with a side arm I. that is adapted to co-act with another angle bracket 31, also fixed on the brush frame, when the frame is being retracted or withdrawn from operative position. when the frame and brushes are in operative position, there is a gap and a slight play between the side arm 80 of the lever arm and the angle bracket 31 to provide for a yielding pressure by the bus on the brushes, that is, the frame and brushes can "give" outwardly against the tension of the compressed spring when the bus pushes against the side brushes.

The frames and brushes are moved to adjusted predetermined position, and the yielding pressure of the compressed springs is adjusted and regulated, for holding the brushes in working position, through they use of an adjusting or operating lever 18 that is keyed to the hingepost 8 to turn therewith. This lever is manually controlled for swinging the frame and brushes into and out of operative position, and means are provided for holding the lever, rigidly,.in adjusted position. In Figures 6 and '7. this holding device is shown as a latch attached to an upright beam 2 by means of a base plate 39 bolted to the beam and fashioned with a grooved flange 40, in which a horizontally disposed, slotted slide or holder 4| having a complementary bottom tongue 42, is mounted. The slide is mounted to fit beneath the free end of the operating lever 38, and it is fashioned with bearing lugs 43 disposed at one side of the free end of the lever.

These laterally spaced bearing lugs form a notch or keeper on one end of the slide for the free end of a catch 44 that is pivoted at 45 on the other end of the slide. This catch or latch also has a pair of outspreading lateral bearing lugs as 46, which together with the lugs 43 of the slide confine the free end of the operating lever within the latch.

The slide on which the latch is mounted is movable longitudinally of the washer in the grooved base plate, and the slide may be locked, with the operating lever, in adjusted position by means of a handle-nut 41 that co-acts with L a stud II on the base plate to clamp the slide to the base plate. I

As indicated in the drawings, each of the lateral units of the washing machine is equipped with spring devices and a control device, all of which are of similar construction and operation, but arranged for right hand and left hand use.

The vertically arranged upper and lower brushes, forming a set, have their respective lower and upper ends as closely related as possible, being separated only by the flexible Joint and ball bearing 25 for the brush-'arbors between the brushes.

To compensate for the gap between the brushes and also to materially assist the brushes in thoroughly washing all parts of the successively passing windows of the bus, a window-brush unit is located at the rear of each of the body brush units.

of the windows, inciudingglass, sashes, mullions etc. I find that by revolving the window brushes in'a direction opposite to that ofthe .body' brushes and in the direction of travel of the bus, the efiiciency of the washing machine is greatly enhanced. I

Each window brush, with its motor M, driving mechanism 23, arbor 40, and bearing joint I (Flg.. 11) is mounted in a frame II having diagonal braces 52 and struts", and the bearing II is mounted in an extension 54 at the lower free corner of the frame. The frame is swiveled at I! and IS on the hinge-Do t i1, and the latter is mounted on an I-beam 2, similar to the mounting of the hinge posts '8.

Each of the window-brush frames is provided withspring-devices, indicated at I8 and IS, and a control device for the frame and brush is also employed, similar to the spring-devices and control devices of the body-brush frames, which have previously been described.

As indicated in the plan view Figure 1, two oppositely arranged rotary, roof brushes, which overlap slightly at the longitudinal center of the machine, are mounted at opposite sides of the machine, in the upper portion of the frame, in position for yielding contact with the roof of the brush, and they of course are designed to wash the roof of the bus. These roof brushes, each of which has an electric motor M and direct driving mechanism 23, aremounted in adjustable, counterbalanced frames ii and 62,-hinged at 63 on the hinge bars '4, and these hinge bars 64 are attached by bracket arms 65 to cross channel bars 4 of th -main frame. The roof brushes and frames hang' or depend from the upper part of the main frame, and they are preferably tilted from the horizontal, with their outer ends below the level of their inner ends, in order that the brushes may readily conform to the usual sloping roof of the 'bus.

These roof brushes and their hinged frames are counterweighted and adjustably supported, so that the revolving brushes are permitted to bear down upon the roof, with a yielding pressure, and with the desired frictional contact, to insure eiliciency in brushing or scrubbing the roof surfaces.

Near the free end of each roof-brush frame a diagonally extending strut 66 is fixed, and the lower end of a suspending chain 61 is attached to this strut, the upper end of the chain being anchored at 68 to the inner end of a transversely arranged lever arnr 69 that is centrally pivoted at III in a pair of parallel cross bars I I, of angle iron, fixed on top of the frame of the washer. I

At the outer end of each lever, by a pivotal connection 12, a weight-rod .13 is suspended, and a suitable number of weights 14 are supported on the rod, their aggregate or total weight being less than the weight of the frame-and brush, so that the brush has a tendency to swing downwardly on the roof of the bus, with an upwardly yielding pressure as the roof of the bus contacts therewith. This yieldable pressure of the roof brushes on the roof is adjusted, regulated, and governed, through the counterweighting arrangement for the frame and its brush, so that the roof brushes, as well as the body brushes gamers and window brushes, automatically apply themselves to their work with efficiency.

As the body brushes and window brushes are adapted to be set in operative position for service with vehicles of varying width, so also are the roof brushes adapted to be set in predetermined operative position with relation to roofs of varying height, and thereafter the roof brushes adapt themselves with a yielding or yieldable pressure against the surface to be cleaned.

For this yielding or yieldable pressure I employ a coiled spring 15 located on the weight rod 13 below the weights l4 and interposed between adjustable collars or nuts 18 and 'l'! on the rod..

The upper collar 18 is loose on the weight rod, and it forms a bearing for the fulcrum of an adlusting lever I8 that is pivoted at 19 in a bracket fixed on an I-beam or upri ht 2. and this lever is fashioned with a slotted bearing head ll through which the weight-rod is passed. The

instrumental in lifting the brush frame on its hinges to elevate the roof brush. The roof frame and brush may thus be adjusted to predetermined operative position of the brush, so that the latter may be slightly lifted by the bus as its roof passes under and in contact with the brush, and this yielding or yieldable movement of the brush is absorbed by the compressed spring, as is the case with the spring devices of the lateral brushes.

The frame is locked in adjusted position through the use of a spring catch BI and its pin 82 mounted near the free end of the adjusting lever, and the pin is adapted to engage in a selected one of an arcuate series of holes 83 in a segmental plate at which is bolted to the upright I-beam 2.

Thus the hinged roof-frames and their brushes, and the lateral frames with their body brushes and window brushes, are all adapted to be controlled and moved into and out of predetermined operative position, and the spring devices employed in connection with the various frames are regulated to control the amount or degree of pressure placed on the brushes for emcient work, as the bus passes between the brushes.

By mounting the articulated or flexible set of two (or more) brushes with a minimum space between adjoining ends of brushes a greater length of effective brushing surface is provided, especially when irregularities are encountered along the sides of a bus or car, or when the bus 'is not in exactly plumb position.

The mounting of a motor on each individual unit, with its direct drive and reducer for speed, the flexible or universal bearing joints between arbors of the articulated sets, as well as in'the Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a vehicle washer, the combination with a main frame and an upright hinge post, of a brush frame comprising upper and lower rectangular sections, ball and socket joints supporting said sections comprising a pair of vertically spaced brackets rigid with the main frame and bearing balls mounted on said brackets, said balls having openings therethrough for the post, a socket member rigid with the upper inner end of each section and having openings for said post, a swivel pin mounted in bearings and connecting said sections at their outer free ends, an articulated set of brushes mounted on the free ends of the sections, and means for rotating the brushes.

2. In a vehicle washer, the combination with a main frame and a vertical hinge post mounted thereon, of a rectangular hingedframe extending laterally to one side of the hinge post and including upper and lower sections each having a ball-and-socket joint at its upper inner edge, said joints being axially alined on the hinge post and supported on the main frame, a swivel joint between said sections at the free vertical edge of the hinged frame remote from the hinge post, an articulate set of axially alined brushes mounted on said free vertical edge, and means for rotating said brushes.

3. In a vehicle washer, the combination with a main frame and a vertical hinge post mounted thereon, of a rectangular hinged frame extending laterally to one side of the hinge post and 'including a lower section having its lower end rotatable on the post and its upper inner end having a ball-and-socket bearing alined with the hinge post and supported on the main frame, an upper section having a ball-and-socket bearing alined with the post and supported on the main frame, said upper section also includingan outer vertical edge bar having a swivel joint with the upper portion of the upper section, and said edge bar at its lower end having a swivel joint with the lower section.

4. In a vehicle washer, the combination with a main frame, of a rectangular hinged frame extending laterally to one side of the frame and including upper and lower sections, each of said sections having an upper swivel bearing sup-.- ported on the main frame, a horizontally extending swivel pin mounted in bearings on adjoining corners of said sections remote from the main frame, an articulate set of rotary brushes mounted at the free edge of the hinged frame remote from the main frame, and means for rotating said brushes.

5. In a vehicle washer, the combination with a main frame, of a hinged frame extending laterally to one side of the main frame and including upper and lower sections, each of said sections including an upper horizontal bar having a vertical swivel bearing supported on the main frame, said upper section including an outer edge bar, a swivel joint mounted in bearings at the adjoining ends of the edge bar and the horizontal bar of the upper section, a swivel'joint mounted in bearings between the lower end of said edge bar and the lower section, an articulate set of rotary brushes mounted at the free end of the hinged frame remote from the main frame, and means for rotating the brushes.

6. In a vehicle washer, the combination with a main frame, a hinge post journaled on the main frame, and a hinged brush frame journaled on the post and supported in hearings on the main frame, said brush frame including a rigid lower rectangular section having upper and lower hinges on the hinge post; an upper section including an upper horizontal bar having a hinge on the hinge post and an outer vertical edge bar, a swivel pin mounted in bearings between the outer end of the horizontal bar' and the upper end of the outer vertical bar; and a swivel pin mounted in bearings between -the lower end of the edge bar and the upper outer corner of the lower section.

'7. In a vehicle washer, the combination with a main frame, a hinge post journaled on the main frame, means for turning the post, and means for. retaining the post in adjusted position, of a brush frame extending laterally to one side of the post, said brush frame being journaled on the post and supported in bearings on the main frame and movable in one direction with the post to operative position, and a spring device rigid with the post and resiliently connected with the frame to permit limited move- :nent of the brush frame in the opposite direcion.

8. In a vehicle washer, the combination with a main frame, a hinge post joumaled on the main frame, means for turning the post to adjusted position, and means for retaining the post in adjusted position, of a brush frame extending laterally to one side of the post, said brush frame being journaled on the post and supported in bearings on the main frame and movable in one direction with the post to operative position, a two-arm lever also fixed on the hinge post, a spring interposed between one arm and the brush frame, and a stop on the brush frame in the'path. of the other arm.

mm B. 'YINGLING. 

